Sevilla vs Hannover 96 preview

August 24, 2011
By: Frank Beresford

Arguably the most interesting game of the Europa League play-off second leg takes place in Seville, where los Rojiblancos are looking to overturn one-goal deficit against Hannover after losing the first leg 2:1.

Sevilla were expected to start their domestic campaign last weekend, but after the entire game week 1 in La Liga was called off, Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side had a full week to prepare for this all-important clash.

Los Rojiblancos couldn’t prevent defeat in Germany but the away goal scored by Frederic Kanoute gives them a chance to go through even with a narrow victory. William Hill pays 8.00 (7/1) on Sevilla to win 1:0.

The Spanish club have big ambitions this season, as witnessed by the heavy recruitment this summer and there are no doubts they will give everything to make it to Europa League group stages.

Boss Toral was definitely happy to see important midfielder Ivan Rakitic resume full training, but the Croat is unlikely to feature after missing the entire pre-season through injury.

Diego Perotti, Gary Medel and Manu del Moral are all pushing for starting places, with young Moreno one of those expected to make way.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Palop – Caceres, Escude, Spahic, Navarro – Navas, Medel, Armenteros, Trochowski – Kanoute, Negredo.

With every club in the world hoping that new season will be at least a little bit more successful than the previous one, Hannover 96 certainly face a tough task after largely impressing last term.

Despite some amazing displays Mirko Slomka’s side eventually missed out on Champions League qualification, while they were very unlucky to be pitted against Sevilla in the Europa League play-off stage.

That didn’t stop the 96ers from winning the first leg 2:1, thanks to two moments of inspiration from normally a back-up striker Jan Schlaudraff, and Hannover are now 2.10 (11/10) with Stan James to make it to the group stages.

Captain Steven Cherundolo is expected to feature despite the ankle problem, while top scorer from last season Didier Ya Konan will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Zieler – Cherundolo, Hagui, Pogatetz, Schulz – Stindl, Schmiedebach, Pinto, Rausch – Schlaudraff, Abdellaoue.

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